Raiders Win Another Thriller in Houston

The Oakland Raiders defeated the Houston Texans 28-23 at Reliant Stadium in Houston. RB Rashad Jennings scored on an 80-yard TD run. Rookie QB Matt McGloin threw three TD passes in his first career start.

Former President of the United States George W. Bush tossed the coin. The Raiders won the toss and elected to defer their choice to the second half. The Texans started the game at the 21 after a 26-yard kickoff return. Three plays later, FS Charles Woodson forced a fumble, which CB Phillip Adams scooped up and returned to the 16. Rookie Matt McGloin started at quarterback.

Six plays later, McGloin, making his first career start, connected with WR Denarius Moore for a 5-yard TD strike. Janikowski’s extra point was good and the Raiders led 7-0 with 9:26 left in the 1st quarter.

Janikowski’s bouncing kickoff was fielded by RB Deji Karim, who was dropped by RB Jeremy Stewart at the Texans 16. The Raiders held Houston to a three-and-out and P Shane Lechler came on to punt. WR Jacoby Ford returned the 56-yard punt to the Raiders 23.

The Raiders drive stalled and P Marquette King came on to punt. Martin returned the 62-yard punt to the Texans 22. A holding call on the Texans backed them up to the 5. DT Stacy McGee hit Keenum as he threw and LB Nick Roch picked off the pass and was tackled at the Texans 16. McGloin immediately went up top and hit WR Rod Streater with a 16-yard TD pass. The extra point was good and the Raiders lead 14-0 with 3:45 left in the 1st quarter. A taunting penalty on Streater forced Janikowski to kickoff from the 20.

Martin’s 36-yard return set the Texans up at the Houston 40. A few plays later, DE Lamarr Houston dropped Keenum for a 15-yard loss on third down and knocked Houston out of field goal range. Ford called for and made a fair catch of the Lechler punt at the Oakland 11. A holding call on the Raiders backed them up to the 6.

The Texans held the Raiders to a three-and-out and King came on to punt. Martin’s return was wiped out by a holding penalty and the Texans started at the 15. Keenum capped the rive with a 42-yard TD pass to TE Garrett Graham to cut the Raiders lead to 14-7.

CB Taiwan Jones returned the ensuing kickoff to the 19. The Raiders drive stalled at the Houston 44. Martin called for and made a fair catch at the 15. The Raiders held the Texans to a three and out end Lechler came on to punt to Ford, who called for and made a fair catch at the Raiders 43.

The Texans held the Raiders to a three and out and Martin returned King’s punt to the Houston 17. After a three and out, Ford Returned a Lechler punt to the Oakland 36. The Texans returned the favor with another three and out and King came on to punt. Martin fumbled the punt but scooped it up and raced 87 yards for the touchdown. The PAT was good and the game was tied at 14-14 with 2:54 left in 2nd quarter.

Jones fielded the ensuing kickoff in the end zone for a touchback and the Raiders started at the 20. The Raiders three and out thanks in part to a sack on first down, the first allowed by the Raiders on the day. King came on to punt. Martin returned the punt to the Houston 24.

The Raiders held the Texans to a field goal attempt. K Randy Bullock’s 51-yard FG gave Houston a 17-14 lead with 40 seconds left in the 2nd quarter.

Jones fielded the kickoff in the end zone for a touchback and the Raiders started at the 20. The Raiders were unable to mount a drive and the Texans led 17-14 at the half.

Jones returned the opening kickoff of the second half to the Oakland 24 but a holding penalty backed the Raiders up to the 9. The Raiders managed one first down before the Texans forced a punt. Martin returned the punt to the Houston 19. The Texans went nowhere and the Raiders got the ball back at the 27 after a Ford punt return.

McGloin capped the Raiders next drive with a 26-yard TD pass to rookie TE Mychal Rivera. The extra point was good and the Raiders took a 21-17 lead with 8:13 left in the 3rd quarter.

The Raiders settled for a 54-yard field goal attempt but the kick hit the left upright and was no good. The Texans took over at the 44. The Raiders forced a three-and-out and a punt. McGloin and the offense started at the 20 after Lechler’s punt bounced into the end zone.

RB Rashad Jennings took the WildCat snap, followed a block, broke a tackle and sprinted down the left sideline for an 80-yard touchdown run. The PAT was good and the Raiders led 28-17 late in the 3rd quarter.

After the kickoff went for a touchback, Matt Schaub entered the game at quarterback for the Texans. The Raiders allowed one first down before forcing a punt. After a touchback, the Texans returned the favor with a three-and-out of their own and King came on to punt.

Martin returned the punt to the Houston 31. Bullock caped the drive with a 26-yard field goal, which cut the Raiders lead to 28-20 with 12:13 left in the 4th quarter.

The Raiders started their next drive at the 20 after a touchback on the ensuing kickoff. Houston held the Raiders to a three-and-out and King came on to punt. The Texans were forced to settle for a field goal attempt. The 30-yard kick cut the Raiders lead to 28-23 with 8:02 left n the game.

Jones returned the ensuing kickoff to the Oakland 21. The Texans held the Raiders to a three and out and King came on to punt. Martin called for and made a fair catch the Houston 30.

The Raiders held the Texans to a three and out and Lechler cam on to punt. Ford called for and made a fair catch at the Oakland 16. The Raiders managed one first down before the Texans forced a punt. Martin called for and made a fair catch at the Texans 36 with 3:43 to play.

The Texans drove deep into Raiders territory but the Silver and Black’s defense held and keep the home team out of the end zone. McGloin took a knee three times to run out the clock and seal the win.

The Raiders improve to 4-6 on the season and return home to face the Tennessee Titans next Sunday at O.co Coliseum in Oakland.